In many ways, though, the first three months of 2013’s entertainment offerings have been consistently surprising and frequently awesome. Why? These 13 reasons.

The best movie of the year so far stars Selena Gomez and Vanessa HudgensNo, “Spring Breakers” didn’t come from the team that makes Adam Sandler’s annual garbage, but there was little reason to believe writer-director Harmony Korine’s dangerous hallucination through the debaucheries of St. Petersburg would be so fascinatingly intoxicating.

Fall Out Boy played at Subterranean and has a new album on the wayThe biggest Chicago rock band of the last decade emerged from an indefinite hiatus to perform on a stage much, much smaller than they’re used to—and will do it big May 16 at Riviera after releasing “Save Rock and Roll” in April. Welcome back, guys.

Pitchfork's top line looks better than Lolla'sIt’s been years since that was the case. This summer, Bjork, R. Kelly and Belle and Sebastian wipe the floor with Mumford and Sons, Vampire Weekend and The Killers. (Which isn't difficult.)

James Franco delivered an awful performance and one of his best performances--in the span of two weeksThe Oscar-nominated actor (“127 Hours”) was 100 percent wrong for “Oz the Great and Powerful.” As a tattooed rapper named Alien with corn rows and metal teeth in “Spring Breakers,” he’s brilliant.

The best album of the year so far is a country albumI know, I know, “I don’t like country music” either. But listen to Kacey Musgraves’ “Same Trailer, Different Park” and tell me you aren’t hooked. Hey hey hey--don’t just look at the album cover.

For the first time in a long time, "How I Met Your Mother" is funny and movingFor about three years, fans have of the show have just wanted to meet the freakin’ mother already. Now suddenly, with a not necessarily welcome additional season still on tap, the show (Robin) sparkles again.

Justin Timberlake released a new album—and appeared on Jimmy Fallon for five consecutive nightsAfter almost seven years of non-musicality, JT returned in a big way with the solid “The 20/20 Experience” and a mix of great performances/uninhibited comedy. Respect.

The talk of the NCAA Tournament is the best-ever 15 seed and its millionaire, model-marrying coachIn a generally underwhelming year for March Madness, Florida Gulf Coast has provided enough excitement for three tournaments. Appreciate the trip to Dunk City while it lasts.

Seth MacFarlane hosted the Oscars, was a huge jackass and some people liked itMost people, myself included, didn’t. But how transparent does misogyny have to be for people to get upset?

Hawks go 24 games without regulation loss and the Bulls end the Heat's 27-game winning streakMiami deserves credit for racking up those wins. So do the Bulls, baby, for doing the "impossible” without Derrick or Joakim. And showing we only stand for hometown streaks around here, regardless of the surface being played on.

There was a movie called "The Last Exorcism Part II."The absurdity is self-explanatory.

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